PHILLIP E. GRAF
Professional Scuba Inspectors Visual Cylinder (PSI-PCI) Inspector Instructor #130
PSI-PCI Eddy Current Technician Instructor
PSI-PCI Valve Inspection Technician Instructor
PSI-PCI Oxygen Cylinder Cleaning Technician Instructor
PSI-PCI Visual Cylinder Inspector #9410

Question:
My tank has a sticker that has a hole punched out on April 2011. Can I still get an air fill in April 2012, or do I need to have a new evidence of inspection (EOI sticker)?

Answer:
This question comes up every so often. The industry standard is Visual Inpection annually not annual plus several days or weeks. Its the same for hydro retest and for that, the law says retest expires at 5 years (for scuba) not 5 years and some days, etc. We had some facinating discussions with DOT on this issue until it occurred to them that we were right and they were wrong. Now to the point. If you have a written record of the exact date on which the inspection was done in the expiring month, like a PSI evaluation form or a copy of the hydro retester's report, then the EOI sticker (or DOT mark) expires at the end of the day marked on the report. Since neither a EOI sticker or DOT retest mark show the day of the month performed, and to ensure that the day is not exceeded thereby passing the time limit (one year or 5 years), the valid period must expire on the first day of the month shown on the EOI or DOT mark.

Yes, if you had the inspection done on the last day of the month and therefore are entitled to all the days of that month, you lose!!

Bottom line, since the expiration DAY (date) can't be exceeded, and you generally don't know what the actual day was, it must expire on the earlier date available.

Early training history!

• Visual Inspector of prescribed, high pressure cylinders
• December 8, 1998
• Professional Scuba Inspectors, Inc. (PSI, Inc.)
• Registration Number 9410
• Worldwide Training in High Pressure Cylinders Safety
• Visually Inspected to PSI, OSHA, and CGA Standards
• Suitable for Air Service
• Suitable for Enriched Air Service
• PSI Standard Crack Inspection